Ex-Easter Island Head (+ Special Guest...

Liverpool’s Ex-Easter Island Head and specially invited guests bring their mesmeric live performance to The Tung Auditorium.

Celebrating the release of their most recent album Norther, the group and a host of collaborators from across the UK’s experimental underground present an evening of unique new configurations and musical jumping off points.

Ex-Easter Island Head are a UK-based experimental musical collective composing and performing music for solid body electric guitar, percussion and other instruments. The group plays multiple electric guitars augmented through mechanical preparations and extended techniques, creating hypnotic performances rich in repetition, shimmering drones and melodic invention through purposefully limited means.

Their records and live performances have received significant critical acclaim from the likes of The Wire, Pitchfork, the Quietus and the New York Times. Favourably compared to the likes of Steve Reich, Glenn Branca and John Cage, the groups’ music has been praised for its mixture of percussive drive, emotional warmth and playful experimentation. They have performed in venues ranging from the tiny Scottish island of Iona to a 150-year-old brewery in Berlin, with major festival appearances including ATP, Supersonic and Le Guess Who? Collaborators have included the BBC Philharmonic, composer Arnold Dreyblatt and musicians Laura Cannell, Charles Hayward and Andre Bosman in the group Whistling Arrow.

Their library music releases Mechanical Landscapes 1 & 2 released by EMI/KPM have seen the group’s work used internationally for television and radio productions, whilst the groups’ own Large Electric Ensemble projects have seen the core quartet joining forces with forward-thinking musicians to make ambitious large scale performances across the UK and EU.

“Free flowing genius” (The Guardian)

Manchester Collective: Sirocco with Ab...

Joy, warmth and irrepressible energy. Sirocco is a great storm of music from across the world, played with heart and virtuosity. From New York to Frankfurt, its infectious spirit has audiences up on their feet and singing along.

★★★★★ “a total reset for the mind and heart” (The Times, on Manchester Collective and Abel Selaocoe)

Expect the unexpected: original South African folk, old Western classics given new life and outrageous solos from across the ensemble. Classical strings dance to the beat of African drums and electric bass guitar. Sirocco has been a fruitful collaboration between Manchester Collective and Guest Director, Abel Selaocoe. A maverick on the cello and a long-time friend of the Collective, he’s a star performer as an instrumentalist, singer, and composer. Join us and celebrate music’s power to unify us all.

Known for their experimental programming, daring collaborations and engaging performances, Manchester Collective perform a combination of cutting-edge contemporary music, classical masterpieces and staged work in spaces ranging from concert halls to warehouses, nightclubs to festivals. New music and collaboration are of vital importance to the Collective; they commission and present work by some of today’s most exciting artistic voices, crossing different genres and artforms.

Tom Thorp and ILUMETRIS: Here, There b...

Internationally award-winning saxophonist/composer Tom Thorp presents his exciting new quintet: ILUMETRIS. They play the show as part of their UK/European tour, with the release of new album Here, There be Monsters…

Thorp’s music blends melodic lyricism with complex texture and exploratory improvisations. Freely dipping into an eclectic plethora of genres from classical, jazz and world, for its inspiration. His work gently leads the listener into new territories, with subtle and intriguing style. His distinctive saxophonic voice pairs seamlessly with the unique sound of generational trumpet talent Neil Yates (best known for his albums 5 Countries, and New Origins).

A rhythm section of Andy Stamatakis-Brown (Alice Zawadski, Manchester Jazz Collective, Gypsies of Bohemia) Grant Russell (formerly of Go-Go Penguin) and John Arnesen (Ancient Infinity Orchestra) provide an endlessly creative vehicle for the vivid narratives in this engaging new album.

Here, There be Monsters… (AMP Music Records) sees ILUMETRIS bring to musical life the legendary creatures of world mythology. With ‘1001 Arabian Nights’, to Anglo-Saxon epic ‘Beowulf’, or the legends of Ancient Greece: the music bristles with rich and energetic story telling. At times dark, at times humorous or poignant, this stunning collection of new jazz pieces blends timeless folk-like melody; the intricate textures of world or classical music; with virtuosic improvisations.

“A dexterous player and an imaginative, original composer. His music and performance are sparkling jewels, that warrant serious attention” (Xpress Magazine, Australia)

Seckou Keita: Homeland Band

After the success of African Rhapsodies, Seckou Keita returns to his roots with his new album Homeland, due to be released in October 2024 by Hudson Records.

In this upcoming opus, Seckou explores identity, sense of belonging and questions the very idea of home, influenced by his own relationship with both his adoptive UK homeland and his native country Senegal.

Always adventurous and seeking to challenge tradition through his kora playing, Seckou will surprise his audience with Homeland by taking them on a journey from past to present. Once again, he bridges musical genres, this time by blending traditional rhythms and modern compositions to create a unique sound, embracing afro-pop, urban and hip-hop.

Transitional musical poetry written and delivered by award winning poets and rap artists from the UK and Senegal will be craftily sampled and woven into the music, shaping a one of a kind live experience.

For the first time in ten years, Seckou will be playing his kora standing up, a tradition set by his uncle and mentor, the late Solo Cissokho, one of Senegal’s most famous pop stars of the nineties. Backed by an electrifying six-piece band of influential Senegalese musicians including drummer Matar N’Diongue, percussionist Kémo Cissokho, keyboardist Moussa N’Gom, guitarist Moustapha Gaye, bassist Modou Gueye, and the wonderful vocalist Korka Dieng, this promises to be an explosive live show!

This line-up, enhanced by Seckou’s magical 22-string kora and soulful vocals, is the ultimate African pop music act and brings a new colour to the genre in its most literal sense. In a blend of acoustic and electronic sounds, Homeland, the show, will certainly keep the audience on their toes!

La Serenissima: Music from the Italian...

Concerti for strings by Brescianello, Corelli, Durante, Facco, Gnocchi, Valentini and Vivaldi.

Adrian Chandler returns to Liverpool, his home city, with La Serenissima in a programme that travels the length and breadth of Italy, highlighting the superb quality of music to be found in musical centres both great and small.

Recognised for “whipping up a storm with Vivaldi”, La Serenissima is “one of Britain’s best-loved chamber orchestras” (The Telegraph) known for championing a host of neglected Italian Baroque composers and outstanding performances. The group plays to a global audience of millions, with 1.3m monthly listeners on Spotify alone and regularly features on international radio, advertising and film.

Courtney Pine: House of Legends

In this special concert presented in partnership with BlackFest, Courtney Pine returns to The Tung Auditorium in his 60th birthday year.

This award-winning show, House of Legends, celebrates the influence and contributions to the UK from the many varied people of the Caribbean and the re-release of his ground breaking debut album Journey To The Urge Within.

No musician more embodies the dramatic transformation in the British jazz scene over the past thirty years than saxophonist Courtney Pine. The ground breaking, multi-instrumentalist has led a generation of exciting and innovative players who have broadened their styles to take jazz out to a wider audience.

Deeply steeped in the traditions of the Caribbean, this very personal project sees Courtney on top form, bringing together musicians from Africa, the Caribbean and Europe for vibrant exchanges that tell tales of life from a truly multi-cultural viewpoint. Expect an exhilarating mix of Merengue, Ska, Mento and Calypso as played through the lens (saxophone) of a UK born artist with strong, proud Afro-Caribbean roots.

“In a class of his own”
The Times

Public Service Broadcasting

Public Service Broadcasting play a special album launch show at Jacaranda Baltic.

The band are releasing their new album ‘The Last Flight’ and the show promises to be a mix of old and future classics.

One not to be missed!

Crowded House album launch

Jacaranda Records are excited to present a live performance from Crowded House at the iconic Cavern Club in support of new album ‘Gravity Stairs’.

The classic Australian band are sure to give a magical performance, all in the intimate surroundings of The Cavern.

Klof Presents: Anastasia Coope

Klof are made up to be bringing New York’s Anastasia Coope to Liverpool on Friday 6th September, following her acclaimed debut album ‘Darning Woman’ released on Jagjaguwar Records.

This time round they’re setting up camp in Artefact on Roscoe Street, an amazing vintage furniture shop / cafe / incredible amount of bits and bobs space with an ethos not too dissimilar from their own, which is all the more reason they thought it’d be perfect for this show.

Anastasia’s music has been described as “vibrational frequency folk” and “an album of haunted tea dances and lo-fi strumming” (The Quietus). ‘Darning Woman’ is littered with layered recording techniques backed by sweeping, chanting and swirling choral vocals, sounding “otherworldy but grounded at the same time” (Avey Tare / Animal Collective).

Tickets are £8 in advance, with supports to be announced in due course. This is not one to miss! Its gonna be a good time, tell all your friends.

Tribute to Hans Zimmer & Film Fav...

Experience cinema’s most iconic music performed by The London Film Music Orchestra illuminated!

General Info

St George’s Hall, Liverpool

Saturday 30th November 2024

Late Concert

Entry from 18:00

Start time 18:45

End Time 20:00

The advised age limit for this event is 8+.

1 hour and 15 minutes hour jam-packed with cinema’s most iconic music, beautifully performed by a live chamber orchestra, including:

• E.T

• Jurassic Park

• Jaws

• Sherlock Holmes

• Schindlers list

• Gladiator

• Harry Potter

• Inception

• Interstellar

• Man of Steel

• Star Wars

• Superman

• Indiana Jones

• Pirates of the Caribbean